Scottemojo
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- Apr 30, 2009
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First, Ceiling/floor talk is mostly bullshit perspective, so please don't take it too seriously. It's just the way my brain processes these new players.
Second, I have to say that one thing I love about our front office is they don't think players have character risks. The call those defects human issues. Which is what they are.
And our draft is full of human issues.
Christine Micheal is full of potential. His burst is insane. Part truck, part ghost. He had trouble as a senior adjusting to a new coaching staff, which I can assume most rational people understand. DNP in the Bowl game last year for coaches decision, no doubt for something that violated team rules. Human issues, just like Lynch had human issues last year.
Had an ACL last year, so anyone who wants to see his true potential needs to watch 2011 footage. The 2011 footage vs Iowa State was a point of reference for me, since ISU has two NFL caliber linebackers. He played low, has a 5 yard turbo button, and is the definition of fluid in the open field.
FLOOR: Slightly bigger Ben Tate. One cut excellence who cannot stay healthy.
CEILING: More fluid and linear than Lynch, Kip compared him to Ahman Green, and it works.
Chris Harper.
Big, strong, good hands, not great route running. Harper plays receiver way more like he is posting up than trying to execute precision football, he is comfortable with a defender's body contact even as the ball is in the air.
FLOOR: Early Doucet, who never added up to the sum of the parts.
CEILING: A faster Anquan Boldin. Both highpoint catches and play power forward more than receiver. Both block. With a QB who is good at throwing a receiver open rather than precision pinpoint throws, Harper could flourish.
Jesse Williams.
I like this guy, and not just because I can buy his jersey and represent my surname. Country strong and weight room obsessed, I think the Hawks staff will have their hands full making him more flexible, which looks to me like something he needs. 600 pound bench is impressive, but a flexible and strong core will serve him better. The USC weight staff that Pete brought to the Hawks has gotten good results, and Williams is already pretty obsessed with good nutrition, so I expect Williams to only get more stout and skilled at the point of attack.
FLOOR: Remember when Red Bryant played inside in the Ruskell/Mora era? Yeah, that bad. Williams is strong, but inside if he cant use his hands well he is screwed. In that case, he can still go the 5 tech spot and contain the end, but Pete wants him to be a 2 down 3 tech like Branch right now.
CEILING: If he can learn to use his hands, Justin Smith. Justin Smith is the reason so many mocked Williams to the Niners.
Ty Powell. First, this guy is impressive off the field from what I can find.
Is he a WLB or a LEO? Or both? The athlete is impressive, and I wonder how much more athletic he could be if he slimmed just a bit to play WLB. Right now, he seems determined to rush the passer.
FLOOR: bartender. A late round LB better be able to play specials, and if he can't, bye bye. Our LEO depth is nuts.
Ceiling: Powell compares himself to Elvis Dumerville. Harding footage is pretty hard to come by. I will have to take his word for it, for now.
Jordan Hill.
This might be the most overlooked pick. Hill is a laterally agile player in confined space, who I think is going to be boom or bust from play to play. Uber strong guards will grab his pads and play over for Hill. Slower guards will whiff on his quickness and Hill will create trouble. Hill is what Seattle tried to get with McDonald. A low man player, Hill might rotate with both Mebane and Williams.
FLOOR: Drake Nevis.
CEILING: Henry Melton. Probably a pipe dream, but if you disagree, post your thoughts.
Tharold Simon. Once again, Seattle gets a tall corner. There just aren't that many tall corners to compare to. He has ball skills, and physically compares more to Sherman than Browner. He is a mouth runner on the field too.
I maintain that Press corner is one of the easiest defensive schemes for cornerbacks to play, so most of Tharold's adjustment to the league will be getting used to the speed, which having been in the SEC, should be pretty easy. Also, Tharold just being away from family and friends and away from the godlike status ballers have at LSU could be tough.
FLOOR: Tharold Simon, as he is right now, a guy who gets into dumb shit off the field.
CEILING: Richard Sherman talent with an LSU education. Not being mean, Dick Sure drops Stanford into every other sentence, and doing the same with LSU won't carry much cachet in a debate.
Second, I have to say that one thing I love about our front office is they don't think players have character risks. The call those defects human issues. Which is what they are.
And our draft is full of human issues.
Christine Micheal is full of potential. His burst is insane. Part truck, part ghost. He had trouble as a senior adjusting to a new coaching staff, which I can assume most rational people understand. DNP in the Bowl game last year for coaches decision, no doubt for something that violated team rules. Human issues, just like Lynch had human issues last year.
Had an ACL last year, so anyone who wants to see his true potential needs to watch 2011 footage. The 2011 footage vs Iowa State was a point of reference for me, since ISU has two NFL caliber linebackers. He played low, has a 5 yard turbo button, and is the definition of fluid in the open field.
FLOOR: Slightly bigger Ben Tate. One cut excellence who cannot stay healthy.
CEILING: More fluid and linear than Lynch, Kip compared him to Ahman Green, and it works.
Chris Harper.
Big, strong, good hands, not great route running. Harper plays receiver way more like he is posting up than trying to execute precision football, he is comfortable with a defender's body contact even as the ball is in the air.
FLOOR: Early Doucet, who never added up to the sum of the parts.
CEILING: A faster Anquan Boldin. Both highpoint catches and play power forward more than receiver. Both block. With a QB who is good at throwing a receiver open rather than precision pinpoint throws, Harper could flourish.
Jesse Williams.
I like this guy, and not just because I can buy his jersey and represent my surname. Country strong and weight room obsessed, I think the Hawks staff will have their hands full making him more flexible, which looks to me like something he needs. 600 pound bench is impressive, but a flexible and strong core will serve him better. The USC weight staff that Pete brought to the Hawks has gotten good results, and Williams is already pretty obsessed with good nutrition, so I expect Williams to only get more stout and skilled at the point of attack.
FLOOR: Remember when Red Bryant played inside in the Ruskell/Mora era? Yeah, that bad. Williams is strong, but inside if he cant use his hands well he is screwed. In that case, he can still go the 5 tech spot and contain the end, but Pete wants him to be a 2 down 3 tech like Branch right now.
CEILING: If he can learn to use his hands, Justin Smith. Justin Smith is the reason so many mocked Williams to the Niners.
Ty Powell. First, this guy is impressive off the field from what I can find.
Is he a WLB or a LEO? Or both? The athlete is impressive, and I wonder how much more athletic he could be if he slimmed just a bit to play WLB. Right now, he seems determined to rush the passer.
FLOOR: bartender. A late round LB better be able to play specials, and if he can't, bye bye. Our LEO depth is nuts.
Ceiling: Powell compares himself to Elvis Dumerville. Harding footage is pretty hard to come by. I will have to take his word for it, for now.
Jordan Hill.
This might be the most overlooked pick. Hill is a laterally agile player in confined space, who I think is going to be boom or bust from play to play. Uber strong guards will grab his pads and play over for Hill. Slower guards will whiff on his quickness and Hill will create trouble. Hill is what Seattle tried to get with McDonald. A low man player, Hill might rotate with both Mebane and Williams.
FLOOR: Drake Nevis.
CEILING: Henry Melton. Probably a pipe dream, but if you disagree, post your thoughts.
Tharold Simon. Once again, Seattle gets a tall corner. There just aren't that many tall corners to compare to. He has ball skills, and physically compares more to Sherman than Browner. He is a mouth runner on the field too.
I maintain that Press corner is one of the easiest defensive schemes for cornerbacks to play, so most of Tharold's adjustment to the league will be getting used to the speed, which having been in the SEC, should be pretty easy. Also, Tharold just being away from family and friends and away from the godlike status ballers have at LSU could be tough.
FLOOR: Tharold Simon, as he is right now, a guy who gets into dumb shit off the field.
CEILING: Richard Sherman talent with an LSU education. Not being mean, Dick Sure drops Stanford into every other sentence, and doing the same with LSU won't carry much cachet in a debate.